Clinical features of cerebrovascular disease in patients with ph-negative myloproliferative disorders

Aim

To study clinical features of cerebrovascular disease in patients with ph-negative myloproliferative disorders.

Material and methods

We recruited 37 patients with essential thrombocytemia, 38 patients with with polycytemia vera and 22 patients with primary myelofibrosis. Mean age
was 56 years (from 20 to 58). All patients underwent brain MRI, MR-angiography, ultrasound scanning of brachiocephalic arteries.

Results

Headache was one of the most prominent clinical symptoms and frequently preceded the hematological diagnosis. In the majority of patients, headache was accompanied by focal vascular lesions on the MRI. Acute cerebral events occurring as a result of thrombotic occlusion of carotid arteries tended to exhibit a fluctuating clinical course. The young age of patients underlines the need in hematological tests in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Conclusion

The study showed that headache may be one of the initial neurological symptoms of the myloproliferative disorders and preceed the development of advanced stages of cerebrovascular disease.